Locking means for draft key retainer pins



March 29, 1938. CQOKE 2,112,807

LOCKING MEAIQS FOR DRAFT KEY RETAINER PINS I Filed March 17, 1937 75 Q INVENTOR AITORNEY Patented Mar. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEQE LOCKING MEANS FOR DRAFT KEY RE- TAINER PINS George T. Cooke, Norwalk, Conn,

assignor to Application March 17, 1937, Serial No. 131,314

14 Claims.

This invention relates to draft key retaining devices and particularly to an improved locking means for draft key retainer pins.

The problem of providing a satisfactory retaining device for draft keys that may be easily and quickly applied, that will withstand the wear and strains of modern operating conditions and that may be locked in place by a simple operation has long confronted the railroad engineer.

In meeting the above problem it has been found that the usual simple insertion of a cotter pin in a hole in the draft key retainer pin is not satisfactory because of the fact that the constant oscillation of the retainer pin and the relatively loose mounting of the cotter pin cause the latter to become badly worn, broken or otherwise made unserviceable. Moreover, it has been found that the cotter pin often, because of wear or because the end thereof has not been properly spread, becomes disengaged from the retainer pin with 20 consequent danger of a loss of the latter, resulting in de angement of the draft rigging and injury to both the train and its passengers or freight.

It is an object of the present invention to pro 25 vide a draft key retaining device which utilizes a cotter pin to lock the retainer pin in position but which is not open to the very serious objections outlined above relative to the use of cotter pins with draft key retainer pins. 39 In achieving this object there is provided as a feature of the present invention a. draft key retaining device in which the cotter pin is spread and firmly locked in place immediately and automatically upon its insertion in the cotter pin hole in the retainer pin and in which a simple means is provided for relieving lateral strain on the.

cotter pin during the normal oscillating and pivotal movement of the retainer pin under usual operating conditions.

As a further feature there is provided locking means for maintaining the retainer pin in proper association with the draft key which eliminates the vibration of the cotter pin and thus serves to reduce wear to a minimum.

Another feature, of the invention resides in providing a draft key retaining means of the cotter pin type which is maintained free from adverse contact with draft sills and other struc- 50 tural elements of the railroad car and which is oooperable with the retainer pin to prevent adverse compiete'pivotal movement of the latter with resultant danger of the head of the retainer pin being battered or sheared off by sharp con: 55 tact.

ted lines and with the head of the retainer pin 10 shown in dotted lines to enable a more clear illustration.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side view of the device disclosed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modified form of the draft key retaining means.

Fig. 5 is a bottom View of the device shown in Fig. 4 with the end of the retainer pin in section to clearly illustrate the manner in which the cotter pin is associated with the device.

Fig. 6 is a side view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a still further modified form of the draft key retaining means.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the device shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a bottom View of the device shown' in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 7.

Before describing the present improvements and mode of operation thereof in detail it should r be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing, which are merely illustrative of the present preferred embodiments, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and the phraseology employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring more particularly to the drawing and first to Figs. 1 through 3 there is shown diagrammatically one end of a draft key 28 as now used extensively on railway cars. This draft key may be of conventional construction and be associated with the draft rigging in a manner Well understood in the art. A portion of a draft sill 2! is 0 diagrammatically shown to enable a fuller appreciation of certain advantages of the invention that will hereinafter be pointed out.

A retainer pin 22 is shown inserted in an opening 23 near the end of the draft key 2!! and is 55 provided adjacent its lower end with a transversely extending hole 24 to receive a cotter pin 25. A head 25 at the upper end of the retainer pin prevents the latter from dropping through the opening 23 in the draft key 20. This construction represents a most simple and conventional retaining means but, when provided with a simple and conventional cotter pin because of the considerations outlined above and because of other considerations that will hereinafter be apparent, has proved to be unsatisfactory for the rigorous demands of modern railroad operating conditions.

Now of particular importance the present invention provides a locking member 21 of substantially U-shape having spaced upper and lower arms 28 and 29 connected at one end by a vertically extending section 30 and with the free ends 3| and 32 of the arms 28 and 29 respectively adapted to project inwardly to receive therebetween the end of the draft key.

A yoke portion 33 at the free end 32 of the lower arm 29 provides an opening 34 defined by fingers 35 and 36 for receiving the lower end 31 of the retainerpin 22. Preferably the fingers 35 and 36, while being inturned at their outer ends to prevent the withdrawal of the retainer pin therebetween, are so formed that they do not completely encircle the retainer pin and permit the projection therebeyond of the opposite side of the retainer pin. This construction is advantageous in that the retainer pin 22 itself absorbs the blow against the draft sill 2| when the draft key shifts laterally as it does under normal operating conditions. In the absence of such a construction, as when the fingers are extended beyond the retainer pin, the blow is taken directly by the fingers which batters them out of shape.

Formed on the lower arm 29 and extending downwardly from the yoke portion 33 as an integral part thereof is a depending sleevelike portion 38 having oppositely disposed sections 39 and 40 defining a continuation of the opening 34. In one section 39 of this sleeve portion 38 there is provided a cotter pin entrance passage 4| extending to the opening 34, and in the opposite section 40 of the depending portion there are provided a pair of divergent cotter pins exit passages 42 and 43 defining therebetween a cotter pin spreading Wedge 45 contiguous the opening 34.

With this construction when the cotter pin hole 24 in the retainer pin 22 is aligned with the entrance passage 4| in the section 39 the cotter pin 25 may be inserted therein and the free end thereof immediately and automatically spread by the wedge 45 to lock the cotter pin to the lower arm 29 of the locking member 21. A cotter pin thus locked in position is securely maintained from lateral shifting relative to either the retainer pin or the lower arm. Vibration of a cotter pin with consequent wear and likely breakage is thus eliminated. Moreover, because the cotter pin is confined within the entrance passage 4| and the exit passages 42 and 43 spaced below the upper face 44 of the portion lower arm 29 adjacent the opening 34 it is protected from contact with the draft key 20. Thus the lower arm 29 itself and not the cotter pin 25 absorbs the wear from the recurrent shifting of the draft key 20.

To further relieve strain on the cotter pin the upper arm 23, which cooperates with the lower arm 29 to restrain vertical movement of the retainer pin, is provided at its free end with a portion 46, preferably upstanding as shown, which is cooperable with the head 25 of the retainer pin 22 to prevent pivotal movement between the latter and the locking member 21. The side 4! of the head is illustrated as being flattened to enable a proper cooperation of the upstanding portion 46 and the head.

Of particular importance, the upstanding portion 46 serves also to locate the retainer pin 22 relative to the locking member so that the cotter pin hole 24, which is provided in the retainer pin in predetermined relation to the head 26 and the flattened side 41 thereof, is aligned with the cotter pin entrance passage 4| and the wedge 45. This aligning feature, facilitating as it does the application of the cotter pin and the looking of the device, is especially advantageous because the draft key 28 and retainer pin 22 are usually in dark and awkward places.

In addition to serving to align the cotter pin with the entrance passage 4| and as a means for relieving lateral strain on the cotter pin 25 during the pivoting and oscillating of the retainer pin 22 that occurs under normal operating conditions, the upstanding portion 46, together with the cotter pin locking connection on the lower arm, causes the U-shape locking member 27 to pivot concurrently with the retainer pin. Thus, while the locking member 21 allows a certain amount of free pivotal action of the retainer pin it serves to limit this pivotal action by an engagement of the vertically extending section 30 with the end of the draft key 20. This latter result is advantageous in that it serves further to prevent unnecessary shifting with resultant wear on the retainer pin and especially because it prevents the elongated head 26 of the retainer pin 22 from turning with resultant danger of being battered and sheared off by sharp contact with the draft sill 2| or other structural elements of a railroad car.

With the novel retaining means provided by the present invention it is therefore seen that the retainer pin 22 may be quickly and easily locked in place by the simple operation of inserting a cotter pin 25 in the entrance passage 4! in the lower arm 29 and then driving the pin inwardly with a blow with any available instrumentality such as a rock, or mallet. It is further seen that while the simplicity of the usual cotter pin connection is retained there is provided a retaining means which is free from the usual objections which have heretofore rendered the use of cotter pins with draft key retainer pins unsatisfactory.

If desired a slightly modified form of a draft key retaining means may be provided as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In this form of the invention the fingers 48 and 49 of the yoke portion at the free end of the lower arm 5| are shown more completely encircling the lower end 3! of the retainer pin 22. However, if desired, these fingers 48 and 49 may be formed as were the fingers 35 and 36 in Figs. 1 through 4, to permit the projection therebeyond of the retainer pin.

As in the case of the locking member 21 first described the locking member 52 of the modified retaining means is provided with spaced upper and lower arms 53 and 5| connected at one end by a vertically extending section 54. In the modified locking member 52, however, a reinforcing rib 55 is formed thereon extending from the depending sleevelike portion 56 on the lower arm to the free end 51 of the upper arm 53, and a portion 58 at the free end of the upper arm for cooperation. with the preferably flattened side 4'! of the retainer pin head is not formed to extend upwardly as is the case in the locking member disclosed in Figs. 1 through 4.

Also, instead of forming the cotter pin entrance and exit passages in. the form of holes 4 I, 42, and 63 as disclosed with the locking member 21, this form of the invention is provided with a cotter pin entrance passage or groove 59 and cotter pin exit passages or grooves 68 and 62 formed in the under faces of the sections 62 and 63 of the depending sleevelike portion 56. With this construction, as with the construction first considered, the cotter pin upon being inserted in the entrance passage 59 and through the hoie 24 in the retainer pin is automatically spread by a wedge 54 defined by the exit passages 60 and BI contiguous with a retainer pin opening 65 in the lower arm 5| on the side opposite the entrance passage 59.

While the cotter pin in this latter construction is perhaps not as securely locked in position as in the construction first described, it is never theless maintained very securely in position and free from adverse vibration both relative to the retainer pin 22 and to the locking member 52. This result follows from the fact that while the lower sides of the cotter pin passages 59, 50, and iii are open, movement of the cotter pin transverse its longitudinal axis relative to the lower arm is prevented by the side walls of the cotter pin passages and downward and upward movement of the cotter pin is prevented by the confining wallsof the hole 24 in the retainer pin. In. all other particulars the functioning and advantages of the modified retaining device are the same as that of the retaining device illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4. It does have the further advantage, however, of making possible less close manufacturing limits for the drilling of the cotter hole 24 relative to the head 26 and makes possible the casting of the entrance groove 59 and exit passages or grooves 69 and SI, thereby eliminating separate drilling operations and thereby eifecting important economies in manu facturing costs.

In Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 another modified form of a draft key retaining means is illustrated. Its construction and operation are broadly similar to the form first considered. However, in this modified form there is provided on the upper arm 56 of the U-shaped locking member 57, in addition to an up-standing portion 68 for engagement with a fiat side 4'! of the head 26 of the retainer pin, a portion 69 in the form of a ring adapted to receive the retainer pin 22. There is likewise provided at the free end of the lower arm H! a ring portion H which is adapted to receive and completely encircle the retainer pin adjacent its lower end.

Like the form first described there is provided on the lower arm l6 a depending sleevelike portion I2 having oppositely disposed sections 73 and M defining a continuation of the opening in the ring portion ii. In one of these sections 73 is formed a cotter pin entrance passage 16 extendto the retainer pin opening 15 and in the other section M are formed a pair of cotter pin exit passages H and i8 defining a spreading wedge Iii contiguous the retainer pin opening 75 and opposite the entrance passage Hi. Insertion of the cotter pin 25, as in the forms hereinbefore considered, causes the free end of the latter to be automatically spread to firmly lock the cotter pin and maintain it from vibratory movement relative to the retaining pin 22 and the locking member 61.

Variations and modifications may be made Within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A retainer for draft keys comprising a retainer pin having a head and a cotter pin hole in predetermined relation to said head; a cotter pin; a locking member; means on said locking member for receiving said cotter pin, for directing the same to the cotter pin hole, and for restraining lateral movement thereof relative to the locking member; and means on said locking member cooperable with said retainer pin head for locating said last named means in predetermined aligned relation to said retainer pin and the cotter pin hole therein.

2. A retainer for draft keys comprising a retainer pin having a head and a cotter pin hole in predetermined relation to said head; a cotter pin; a locking member; means on said locking member for receiving and spreading said cotter pin and for restraining lateral movement of the latter relative to the locking member; and means on said locking member cooperable with said retainer pin head for locating said locking member and said last named means in predetermined relation to said retainer pin.

3. A retainer for draft keys comprising a retainer pin having a head and a cotter pin hole in predetermined relation to said head; a cotter pin; a locking member having spaced upper and lower arms; means on said lower arm for receiving the cotter pin and for restraining lateral movement thereof relative to the locking member; and means on said upper arm cooperable with said retainer pin head for locating said last named means relative to the cotter pin hole.

4. A retainer for draft keys comprising a retainer pin having a head and a cotter pin hole in predetermined relation to the head; a cotter pin; a locking member having spaced upper and lower arms, each provided with openings to receive the retainer pin; means on said lower arm for receiving the cotter pin, for directing the same to the cotter pin hole, and for restraining lateral movement thereof relative to the locking member; and means on said upper arm cooperable with said retainer pin head for locating said last named means relative to said cotter pin hole.

5. A retainer for draft keys comprising a retainer pin having a head and a cotter pin hole in predetermined relation to the head; a cotter pin; a locking member having spaced upper and lower arms; means on said lower arm for receiving the cotter pin, for directing the same to the cotter pin hole, and for restraining lateral movement thereof relative to the locking member; means on said lower arm for receiving and spreading the cotter pin as the same is inserted through said cotter pin hole; and means on said upper arm cooperable with said retainer pin head for locating said last named means relative to said cotter pin hole.

A retainer for draft keys comprising a retainer pin, with a cotter pin hole therein, adap-t ed to pass through an opening in a draft key, a. head on said retainer pin having a fiat side; a locking member of substantially U-shape having connected vertically spaced upper and lower arms adapted toreceive a draft key, said upper arm having a portion engageable with the fiat side of the head for locating said cotter pin hole relative to said locking member, and said lower arm having an opening for receiving the retainer pin; and means on said lower arm for receiving a cotter pin, restraining movement of the latter relative to the lower arm transverse the longi tudinal axis of the cotter pin and directing the same relative to the cotter pin hole in the retainer pin.

7. A retainer for draft keys comprising a retainer pin, with a cotter pin hole therein, adapted to pass through an opening in a draft key; a head on said retainer pin; a locking member of substantially U-shape having connected vertically spaced upper and lower arms adapted to receive the draft key, said upper arm having a portion engageable with the retainer pin head for restraining pivotal movement of the locking member relative to the retainer pin and for Y cating the cotter pin hole in predetermined relation to said locking member, and said lower arm having an opening for receiving the retainer pin and having a cotter pin entrance passage therein spaced below the upper face thereof and extending to said opening therein; and a cotter pin spreading wedge on said lower arm contiguous said opening therein on the side opposite said entrance passage, whereby a cotter pin may be inserted through said entrance passage and the hole in said retainer pin and automatically spread to lock the latter to the locking member.

8. A retainer for draft keys comprising a retainer pin, with a cotter pin hole therein, adapted to pass through an opening in a draft key; a head on said retainer pin; a locking member of substantially U-shape having connected vertically spaced upper and lower arms adapted to receive the draft key, said upper arm having a portion cooperable with said retainer pin head to locate said cotter pin hole in predetermined relation to said locking member, and said lower arm having an opening for receiving the retainer pin; and a sleevelike portion on said lower arm defining a continuation of said retainer pin opening, having a cotter pin entrance passage therein spaced below the upper face thereof and extending toward said opening and having two divergent cotter pin, exit passages therein spaced below the upper face thereof and defining therebetween a wedge on the side of the opening opposite said entrance passage, whereby a cotter pin may be inserted through said entrance passage and the hole in said retainer pin and automatically spread to lock the latter to the locking member.

9. A retainer for draft keys comprising a retainer pin, with a cotter pin hole therein, adapted to pass through an opening in a draft key; a head on said retainer pin; a locking member of substantially U-shape having connected vertically spaced upper and lower arms adapted to receive the draft key, said upper arm having a portion engageable with said retainer pin head for locating said cotter pin hole in predetermined relation to said locking member, and said lower arm having an opening for receiving the retainer pin; and a depending sleevelike portion on said lower arm defining a continuation of said retainer pin opening, having a cotter pin entrance groove formed in the under face thereof extending toward said opening and having two divergent cotter pin exit grooves in the under face thereof defining therebetween a wedge on the side of the opening opposite said entrance groove, whereby a cotter pin may be inserted through said'entrance groove and the hole in said retainer pin and automatically spread to lock the latter to the locking member.

10. A locking means for draft key retainer pins comprising a member of substantially U- shape having spaced upper and lower arms connected at one end and adapted to receive a draft key, said upper arm having a portion engageable with a side of the retainer pin head for locating and for restraining pivotal movement of said U-shaped member relative to said retainer pin, and said lower arm having an opening adapted to be aligned with the retainer pin opening in the draft key and having a cotter pin entrance passage extending toward said opening therein; and a cotter pin spreading wedge on said lower arm on the side of the opening therein opposite said passage, whereby a cotter pin may be inserted through said entrance passage and a hole in the retainer pin and automatically spread to lock the latter to the lower arm.

11. A locking means for draft key retainer pins comprising a member of substantially U- shape having spaced upper and lower arms connected at one end and adapted to receive a draft key; a portion on said upper arm engageable with a side of the head of the retainer pin for preventing pivotal movement relative thereto; a yoke portion at the free end of said lower arm defining an opening for receiving the retainer pin and restraining lateral movement of the lower arm relative thereto in all directions, said yoke portion being formed to permit the projection therebeyond of the opposite side of the retainer pin and having a cotter pin entrance passage extending toward said yoke opening; and a cotter pin spreading wedge on said lower arm on the side of said yoke opening opposite said cotter pin entrance passage, whereby a cotter pin may be inserted through said entrance passage and a hole in the retainer pin and auto-, matically spread to lock the latter to the lower arm.

12. A locking means for draft key retainer pins comprising a member of substantially U- shape having spaced upper and lower arms connected at one end and adapted to receive a draft key, said upper arm having an opening adapted to receive the retainer pin and having an upstanding portion engageable with a side of the retainer pin head for locating and for restraining pivotal movement of the U-shaped member relative to the retainer pin, and said lower arm having an opening adapted to receive the retainer pin and having a cotter pin entrance passage extending toward said opening therein; and a cotter pin spreading wedge on said lower arm on the side of the opening therein opposite said passage, whereby a cotter pin may be inserted through said entrance passage and a hole in the retainer pin and automatically spread to lock the latter to the lower arm.

13. A retainer for draft keys comprising a retainer pin having a head and a cotter pin hole in predetermined relation to said head; a cotter pin; a locking member having upper and lower projecting arms; means on said lower arm for locking said cotter pin against movement relative to said locking member; and means on' said upper arm cooperable with said retainer pin head for locating said locking means relative to said cotter pin hole.

14. A retainer for draft keys comprising a retainer pin, with a cotter pin hole therein,

adapted to pass through an opening in a draft key; a head on said retainer pin having a flat side in predetermined relation to said cotter pin hole; a locking member having upper and lower projecting arms adapted to receive a draft key, said upper arm having a portion engageable with the flat side of the head, and said lower arm having a passage for receiving a cotter pin; and a cotter pin spreading wedge on said lower arm, opposite said receiving passage for automatically spreading a cotter pin when the latter is inserted through said passage and the cotter pin hole in said retainer pin.

GEORGE T. COOKE. 

